Syria defends rights record as West, Turkey accuse it of imposing 'starvation'

25/1/2022 6:27

        Western powers and Turkey accused Syria on Monday of imposing "starvation" and siege warfare in opposition-held areas, as Syrian officials said foreign forces were illegally occupying parts of the country suffering from U.S.-led sanctions.
        
        Britain and the United States were among those at a U.N. Human Rights Council session in Geneva calling on Syria to end unlawful detention and disappearances, and allow humanitarian aid to reach all civilians after nearly 12 years of war.
        
        Syrian deputy foreign minister Bashar Ja'afari, addressing the forum's first review of Syria's record since October 2016, said that the Syrian government was facilitating aid deliveries while facing a "systematic terrorist war".
        
        "France, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Turkey and Israel are all countries that are involved in the occupation of parts of my country and are violating international law by doing so," he said.